A 1980s CONDO GOES RETRO VINTAGE

We needed the amenities of our modern condominium complex-but that didn't stop us from completely transforming it, in two period styles!

art space

CREATIVE PROBLEMSOLVING BRINGS FINESSE TO A MINNEAPOLIS ROW HOUSE GUTTED IN 1979, BLENDING HISTORIC ELEMENTS AND MODERN USE IN 1200 SQUARE FEET.

A SUMMER RETREAT PRESERVED in the Catskill Mountains

Theatrical and yet as cozy as a camp, the Victorian house that sat vacant for a decade was remarkably intact.

the unabashed Maximalist

This home at the top of a San Francisco row house is a kaleidoscope of colors and textures. Every piece has a story to tell.

Common Door Problems

An introduction for do-it-yourselfers to reading a balky door and taking steps to fix it

Rescuing Old Furniture By Refinishing

Sometimes the finish is just too far gone and the old piece demands a refresh to make it attractive and usable. Here's one success story.

BEAT THE HEAT

In this time of weather extremes and power disruptions, it's important to learn from the past as we think about the future.

Eastlake Galley

The 1886 house is a Victorian Revival jewel box, all in just 1700 square feet.

Hideaway Bed Ideas, ca. 1930

This page comes from the catalog \"More Home in Less Space,\" published by the original Murphy Door Bed Company.

BUNKS & built-in beds

Bunk beds and bedroom built-ins have lots of history-and they're not just for kids.

THE Villa RENEWED

This house in Greene County, New York, has been faithfully restored, from its foundation and structure to exterior elements and trim inside.

walls & ceilings

BY THE 1870s, the tripartite treatment was fashionable: walls divided into dado (or wainscot) below the chair rail, fill or field section, and frieze at the top of the wall.

lighting + hardware

ANTIQUE, REPRODUCTION, or contemporary, lighting fixtures and lamps are among the most cost-effective ways to add drama or period style to a room.

CRAFTSMAN PATINA

A smitten owner brings the Arts & Crafts aesthetic to a 1921 bungalow in Seattle.

furniture & decorative accessories

PERIOD ROOMS are the goal of a very small niche of old-house owners.

wall & floor tiles

TODAY WE FIND TILE from small studios . . . carved relief tiles, subway tile and mosaics, glazes matte and iridescent . . . plus encaustics and California revivals.

A TRANSCENDENT BATHROOM IN OJAI

A seamless addition allowed for this timeless primary bath, which has been re-imagined as an upgrade dating to ca. 1930.

CRAFTSMAN DETAILS IN A KITCHEN

An excellent layout and period motifs distinguish this midsize kitchen in a bungalow-era house.

home design - HOUSES HAVE A PAST - AND A FUTURE, TOO

THE BEST RENOVATIONS TOE THE LINE BETWEEN NECESSARY UPDATES AND ENOUGH SENSITIVITY TO ASSURE DESIGN INTEGRITY.

a farmhouse RESCUE

Using a cache of salvaged finds, the homeowner, architect, and contractor together rescued a tumbledown farmhouse in Vermont.

period living with an artistic eye

Owner Deb Richards, who is quite at home in the past, continues to steward the 1740 New England house and its traditional garden.

WHEN ALL IS (GARDEN) FOLLY

A ROMANTIC STONE RUIN PROVIDES INTEREST IN THE SMALL YARD

INHABITING a fantasy

A bland old house, once home to musicians who were month-to-month, slowly morphs into a Victorian showcase born of its owners' imaginations.

A Pocket Door from a Transom

Installed vertically, a transom window glazes a door that slides into the wall.

Solving the Roof

After much research by the owners, a century-old Storybook home gets a 21st-century roof treatment.

the case for SHUTTERS

Shutters may look relatively fragile but older wood shutters were built to withstand decades of weather, bearing up through hurricanes and hail, intense heat and piercing cold.

A Nautical Cottage Bath

A tranquil new bathroom uses color and texture for seaside appeal.

window PROBLEM SOLVERS FOR OLD-HOUSE RETROFITS & ADD-ONS

Good windows, well designed, can solve problems with function, proportion, letting in the light, and ventilation. Manufacturers are stepping up.

OUR DYNAMIC MID-CENTURY RANCH

The 1952 house was cookie-cutter and tired. Now it showcases the best of MCM design.

For Gracious Outdoor Living

An eclectic pick of enhancements for your home and garden this summer.